Chapter 10
Willa
Ihave no idea how I got here. I mean, I know how I ended up in Rose Grove, looking for a fresh start, but here? In a waiting room surrounded by the Devil’s Rose MC waiting for my former booty call/present friend’s grandchild to arrive? Life has a really funny way of screwing with me sometimes.
“You OK?” Joy asks, patting my hand.
“I’m not the one having a baby,” I sass, trying hard to hide my smile.
Joy rolls her eyes. “You know what I mean.” She looks around the room. “It can be a little overwhelming sometimes, so I get it.”
I follow Joy’s gaze, at all the families waiting for news.
Mad Dog is holding Little Bee in his arms, her little head resting at the base of his throat.
I'm damn certain I feel my ovaries dropping eggs at the sight.
Marx laughs at something he says, and Mad Dog rocks Bee when she startles at the sound.
“It’s…nice,” I admit to my friend. “I…like it.”
“But, you’re scared.”
My gaze shoots to her knowing one, and she gives me a little smile. “I got you, Willy Wonka.” She winks at me and I roll my eyes at the name.
“Joy?”
“Hmm?
“I got you, too.” I squeeze her hand and smile to myself when she rests her head on my shoulder.
The doors open and Rhodie steps through, a grin a mile wide on his face. “He’s here. He’s big and hairy and he has curly hair like Laney-May and wrinkly fingers like Chomper and fuck, he’s, he’s…amazing.”
Mad Dog gently hands Bee over to Lovely and steps up to Rhodie, grabbing him by the cut and wrapping him in his arms. I know how good that feels.
How warm and safe. Shit. What the hell am I doing here?
This isn’t my life. This isn't what I get to have.
Especially not with that asshole Diesel sniffing around.
“Pssst, I think someone is waiting for you to congratulate them,” Joy says with a smirk.
“Joy, it’s not like he did anything.”
“I know. But sometimes, friends want to share good news with other friends.” She gives me a pointed look so I let out a huff and move to stand.
“You’re kinda bossy since you’ve been hanging out with this club.”
“I think you started the ball rolling.”
“And they finished you off.” I shake my head sadly and then cackle when she tries to swat my ass.
I make my way across the room to Mad Dog, his brothers still slapping his back in celebration.
“You know, I’m not sure why they’re congratulating you. You didn’t really do anything.”
He feigns shock, his tattooed fingers splayed across his chest, “Willa,you wound me! I provided the material that made the father, you know.”
I nod. “Well, that’s one way to spin it.” I give him a look before smiling. “Congrats on the new family member.”
Stepping forward I awkwardly wrap my arms around him, but not too close. I give him a little pat on the back before stepping away again. “So I should probably-”
“Would you come in with me?”
“What the fuck?”
We stare at each other before I burst into laughter, mine drowned out by Mad Dog’s low rumble.
“Well, shit, if you hate babies, just say it.” He chuckles.
“No, it’s just, I was surprised you’d even want me in there. They’re your family, Mad Dog.”
He nods at my words. “And you’re my friend.”
Gah, why the hell did I think that was a good idea? One of us is going to get hurt, and I have a terrible gut feeling that it could be me. Shit’s sake Willa.
“Sure!” I say brightly because I’m an idiot but damn if the smile he throws me doesn't do something to my chest.
He reaches for me but instead of taking my hand, he moves to my side, his hand hovering over my lower back. Not quite touching, but the heat emanating from him means I feel him. Everywhere.
“Knock, knock,” he calls gently.
“Hey, Mad Dog, look what we did!” Chewy grins, angling the baby up for us to see.
“Well, would you look at that,” Mad Dog coos, moving to Chewy’s side and pressing a kiss to her crown. “One hell of a group project.”
“Yeah.” Chewy peers down at her son. “So, because Gus’s kid stole Pops’ name and my dad’s name, we’ve decided to name him after you.”
“What the fuck? Really?” Pops grumbles from his position on the other side of Chewy’s bed with Laney on his knee.
“Pops, we ain't having two boys with your name running around,” Rhodie says decisively.
“Anyway, Doggy, meet Miles Monday Tombs-Paxton.”
Mad Dog beams, looking into the baby’s little squidgy face. “Well, shit, it’s been a while since I heard my government name.”
“Shit name if you ask me-ow!” Pops bitches when Mama Debs backhands him in the gut.
“Monday?” I ask.
“Well, yeah, cos I’m Tuesday.” Chewy states matter of factly. “He’s Monday.”
“Not Wednesday?”
“Well that makes no sense, Willa.”
Mad Dog snorts then covers it with a cough. “Chewy, Rhodie, shit, I’m honored.”
“Good. Here, take him. I’m all sweaty and tired and his hair kinda smells like the inside of my stomach.”
Chewy offloads the little bundle and then makes grabby hands at Blanche who comes bearing Sushi. I ignore the chirps of the Ol Ladies as they all try to get small peeks of the baby, instead my gaze is drawn to Mad Dog staring adoringly at the little bundle in his arms.
“Oh, Willa, check out his toes. They’re like super weird looking,” Chewy says around a mouthful.
“Chewy, they’re perfect. Just like the rest of him.” Mad Dog says, his eyes glued to his grandson. “You’re gonna grow up to be a good man, little Miles.”
“Get it? Miles, like Rhodes and Lane?” Chewy snorts. “We are so clever with our kids' names.”
“Like Chomper?” Ana smarts.
Chewy flips the bird at her. “I’m full of fancy motherly hormones. Your negativity can’t hold me down today. Come back in a few days when they’ll all come crashing down and I’ll probably cry and act irrational.”
“As opposed to how rational you act normally?” Gus teases before squeezing Chewy’s shoulder.
“Exactly,” Chewy says seriously.
Everyone jokes and Chewy eats and Mad Dog stares and I think it’s definitely time for me to make my leave.
“Hey, I’m gonna get outta here,” I whisper to Mad Dog. His head shoots up and he moves to come with me. I stop him, my hand resting against his hard chest. “No, you stay, be with your family. I’ve…had a day. I’m gonna head home, get into fat pants and relax a little.”
“Willa?”
“I’ll lock the doors, make sure the house is alarmed, and I’ll dust off the Winchester boys.” I wink, patting his chest goodbye, because damn, that thing is exquisite.
I can tell that Mad Dog wants to get up in my business. Boss me around. Probably tell me to head back to the clubhouse where he’ll keep me holed up in his room giving me orgasm after orgasm, goddammit Willa get a grip.
“You sure, babe?”
Well, shit. I was not expecting that at all. I paste a tight smile on my face, and nod like a bobble head. “Yup. I’m sure. Stay, celebrate with your family.” I give everyone a smile and a wave and stop short of the door. “Those muscles of yours seize up tomorrow? Book an appointment.”
“Will do, but I’m sure they’ll be fine. Rode horses for years, remember?”
“Oh I remember.” I grin and head on out.
Down the hall, onto the street. Into the fresh air, where my head is less jumbled and my heart has no chance to soften any more than it has.
Mad Dog
“Yo, we’re gonna head out to the old Death Riders compound. Savage wants to take a look.”
“Who’s riding out?” I ask Tank.
“Most of us. Apart from the poor bastards you got watching Willa.”
“Shhhh!” I hiss at him waving my arms around and jumping up from my recliner with a groan.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” Savage asks, stomping into the room.
“Nothing.”
“Liar. You answered that way too fast.” Savage smirks.
“Nothing is wrong with me and I’ve got nothing to hide.”
Savage raises a brow, sharing a look with Tank. “So, you’re gonna keep singing from that hymn sheet huh? The one where one giant, orange bastard isn’t sitting in Joy’s house spying on Willa?”
“He’s not spying on Willa. And it’s his house too,” I grumble.
“Whatever you say, brother.” Tank adds. “Anyway, we’re riding out if you wanna come?”
I could sit here checking my phone constantly for updates from Switch, or I could actually put myself to good use.
“Yeah, I’ll come along.” I twist side to side, trying to loosen up my back a little. Turns out equestrian or dressage or whatever the hell we were up to, is harder on the body than I expected.
I follow my brothers out the door, the warm air hitting my senses. The sun is shining, I can already smell Judge’s exhaust, and it’s just the thing I need to get out of my head.
“We waiting on anyone else?” Judge calls.
“Just Rider,” Savage replies.
Aside from Rhodie who is at home with Chewy and his babies, Switch who is busy on my assignment and Marx and Gus who are meeting with Roman, it seems the rest of the club are mounted and ready to go. A smile tugs at my lips. Quarter Mile MC aint gonna know what hit it.
“No need to strip colors when we hit Roxburgh,” Judge calls over his shoulder. “Quarter Mile ain’t claimed it as territory yet.”
Well, now. Ain’t that damn weird. I share a look with Savage, but it’s Jules’ muttered “weird” that sums it up. He has a Chewy look on his face, so I know he’s scheming. Whether it’s a good scheme or a bad scheme, we’ll soon find out.
“Yo Fox, we got anything else on these guys?”
Nitro shakes his head, answering instead. “Nothing. Since you and Rider had eyes on they've laid low. Too low.”
Judge gives the signal and we all fire up our bikes, the roar of the engines temporarily stealing my attention.
This, this right here is heaven on earth.
The sun on your face, wind in your hair, riding alongside your brothers.
Eating up the miles going everywhere and nowhere at once.
The only thing that could make this better would be a beautiful woman on the back of my sled, her arms wrapped around my waist. The intimate way your passenger speaks over your shoulder, their breath tickling the fine hair at the base of your neck.
Just those small intimate moments you take for granted when you have someone by your side and at your back.